The lost continent

Chapter 10

Tokoyami’s caw cuts through the air again, and Shouji smooths down his ruffled feathers. They left the port quickly, aiming to reach their next destination a couple days early, but Mina thinks there voyage will be a little delayed, judging by the billowing dark clouds up ahead. Kirishima starts to get a little nervous- he’s been on countless expeditions, aboard the Iwa government ships, but never for very long, and he’s always been blessed with good weather.

“I might be able to get around it.” Mina says. “It’s still pretty far away. We’re lucky we left early, though, it’ll cost us some time.”

“Do what you have to.” Bakugou nods. “Kiri, we’ll postpone your training until the storm has past. I want everything on deck to be staying where it needs to be. Mina, call me up if there’s trouble.”

“Yes, Captain.” she nods.

“Do you really think we can miss it?” Kirishima asks her, before he follows Bakugou to his quarters.

“Fifty/fifty.” Mina shrugs. “You scared?”

Kiri looks at the clouds again. “I’ve never been on a ship in a storm before.”

“Well, no worries.” Mina says, proudly squaring her shoulders. “I take good care of the Crepitus . It’ll be a busy venture if it hits, but nothing I can’t handle.”

“When would it hit?” Kirishima asks.

Mina hums. “If we can’t bypass it, it’d be late in the morning, I’d guess.”

Kirishima wonders how it is she can predict that. He plans on asking her soon, when she’s not so preoccupied. “Thank you, Mina!”

She throws her head back and laughs. “God, you’re the worst pirate ever, Kiri.”

Kirishima laughs too, as he descends the wheel deck. He thinks he’s getting better, though, as his sword is already feeling like a natural weight against his side.

Bakugou is already inside his chambers, so he knocks on the wooden door. He can literally hear Bakugou sigh dramatically when he does so, before he says, “Stop being an idiot and come in.”

“Habit.” Kirishima says, as he enters.

“Break it.” Bakugou mutters. He’s already undressed, and he’s stretching his arms high above his head. Kirishima, despite all the times he’s seen his naked form, can’t help but stare at the tight muscles of his lean frame.

Kirishima sets his sword down on the chest at the foot of Bakugou’s bed. His thoughts make the air weigh heavy between them- maybe it’s because he’s thinking about the storm, or because he can still feel the weighty ache of his muscles, but even with Bakugou, naked and very beautiful in front of him, he’s uninterested, at the moment, in having sex.

“Um, Captain?” Kirishima says, clearing his throat. He feels strange, discussing it- up until now it was just actions that he went along with, willing and intrigued, and it’s not that any appeal is lost on him, he thinks he’s just tired and weary, the days catching up and the coming days nervous on his mind. “Tonight, I’m… not sure I can do it.”

Bakugou tilts his head. “Okay.”

“Huh?” Kirishima says, surprised. “Really?”

“What do you mean really , idiot?” Bakugou says. He walks over to his desk, carefully peering at the titles of the books he has there.

“Well, I figured you’d want to-” Kirishima starts.

“Of course I do, love.” Bakugou says. “But if you don’t want to, it’s not a big deal. Your ass has had a beating the past few days, I’m honestly surprised you wanted it that much.”